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The author of this blog, David T.S. Fraser, is a Canadian privacy lawyer who practices with the firm of McInnes Cooper. He is the author of the Physicians' Privacy Manual. He has a national and international practice advising corporations and individuals on matters related to Canadian privacy laws.

For full contact information and a brief bio, please see David's profile.

Please note that I am only able to provide legal advice to clients. I am not able to provide free legal advice. Any unsolicited information sent to David Fraser cannot be considered to be solicitor-client privileged.

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The views expressed herein are solely the author's and should not be attributed to his employer or clients. Any postings on legal issues are provided as a public service, and do not constitute solicitation or provision of legal advice. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained herein or linked to. Nothing herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel.

This web site is presented for informational purposes only. These materials do not constitute legal advice and do not create a solicitor-client relationship between you and David T.S. Fraser. If you are seeking specific advice related to Canadian privacy law or PIPEDA, contact the author, David T.S. Fraser.

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Cellphone Camera Use Policies

I often see articles about purient uses of cell phone cameras, which I seldom link to because they're as mundane as university security incidents. Rob Hyndman (Celphone Camera Use Policies) is linking to a post at IP Counsel Blog about camera phones and IP protection (IP Counsel Blog: Camera Phones And Corporate Espionage). It's a good post and any company with sensitive IP should carefully consider the issue.

In my practice, I'm seeing policies that try to address this technology from the perspective of protecting the privacy of employees and customers. For example, daycares should at least turn their minds to developing rules about who can photograph kids and should the organization get consent in advance from the parents to allow photography on the site? Gyms should (and many do) think about policies for allowing the devices in locker rooms and in exercise areas. Hospitals also need to think about whether visitors should be able to take pictures that may include unrelated patients in the background. Some people are very sensitive and would get upset if a photo from the Christmas party shows up on the staff bulletin board.

Phones with cameras installed are ubiquitous. The more prevalent they are, the harder they are to regulate. Also, as they become commonplace, it is easy to lose sight of the risks that they may pose and its harder to get people to give them up at the door.

Labels: information breaches